Ladder support



April 8, 1941.

C. A. EILERS B'ADDER SUPPORT Filed June 13, 1940 J9 90 J40 J5 a? I 22a.

J7 J7 Mi C/za/ lksc/ii% rs ATTO R N EYS Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT orrla LADDER SUPPORT Charles A. Fillers-Montague, Mich.

Applicatien June 13, 1940, Serial No. 340,393

6 Claims.

My invention relates to ladder attachments.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device for holding the upper end of a ladder spaced from a supporting wall, which device is uniquely constructed to provide means permitting the same to be easily and expeditiously applied to or removed from the ladder.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character which securely engages the supporting wall to prevent the ladder from slipping to either side when the same is spaced from the wall.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character which may be moved to either the extended or folded position by a person supported on the ladder in accordance with the exigencies of the moment and wherein the above operation may be accomplished with a minimum of efiort and danger to the person performing the same.

Other objects and advantages of my invention, will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention, and showing the same associated with a ladder and supporting wall,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the attachment in the folded position. and

Figure 3 is a front elevation of my device, and showing the same associated with the ladder and arranged in the folded position.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral HI designates a ladder which includes the conventional side rails II and I2 and spaced rungs i3.

My invention is adapted to be mounted for swinging movement about a rung l3 located adjacent the upper end of the ladder. The arm members M are similarly shaped and constructed and the end I5 of each of the arm members is arranged below the rung to which it is to be attached. A semi-circular bearing strap I6 is provided for the mentioned end of each of the arms, which strap extends over the rung and has its opposite ends secured to the arm by the bolts H. or the like.

The arms M may be adjusted relative to each other on the rung and the link members I8 and I9 connecttherewith to hold the same in the selected adjusted position. The links are pivoted to each other at substantially their middle by the eye-bolt 20 and arranged in substantially right angular relation with each other. The opposite ends of the links comprising the substantially X-shaped brace thus formed are secured to the arms 14, the end 2| of the link It and the end 22 of the link [9 being interposed between the arms I4 and the bearing straps Hi. The washers 23 are interposed between the opposite ends of the bearings and the arms to hold these ends of the bearings spaced from the arm. The end 24 of the link l8 and the end 25 of the link l9 carry bolt elements 26 which are adapted to be received within one of the longitudinally spaced opening 21 provided adjacent the outer ends of the arms. By inserting the bolts 25 in various of the openings 21 the distance between the arms It may be selectively varied and the links will hold the arms in the selected adjusted position.

The frame thus formed is freely swingable about the mug l3 to which it is attached. The outer ends of the arms M are preferably rolled upon themselves to provide smooth bearing surfaces for engagement with the wall 28 of a building, or the like. The chain 29 has one end connected to theeye-bolt 20 and the other end connected to the next rung above the rung to which the frame is attached, which chain is of sufficient length to permit the arms Hi to extend substantially normally from a plane containing the side rails of the ladder, as illustrated in Figure 1. It is frequently necessary when painting a house that the upper end of the ladder be spaced from the wall being painted. When the painter leans the ladder against the wall in the conventional manner the contacting ends of the ladder rails interfere with the painting operation. The present invention permits the painter to place the ladder against the wall and to thereafter move the same to a position spaced therefrom. The above operation is accomplished by manually grasping one of the ladder rungs and pushing against the wall to move the ladder away therefrom. The frame may then swing downwardly until the chain 29 prevents further swinging movement so that the ends of the arms l4 may bear against the wall. The attachment also finds utility in. holding the upper ends of the ladder rails away from the wall to prevent the same from engaging and crushing the rain trough normally arranged below the caves of the house.

In order that the movement of the frame to a folded or extended position may be accomplished in as safe a manner as possible, I have provided a helical spring 30 one end of which is connected to the eye-bolt 28 and the other end of which is adapted for connection with a hook 3i carried by one of the side rails slightly below the upper rung 43. The resilient action of the spring normally acts to hold the frame in the folded position; however, the spring will yield when the frame is moved to the extended position in the manner illustrated in Figure 1. The weight of the ladder and the person supported thereby will hold the frame in the extended position until manually released. The manual release is accomplished by the workman who grasps one of the rungs and pushes against the supporting wall 28 to disengage the distal ends of the arms l4 therefrom, the resilient action of the spring 30 may then automatically pivot the frame about the rung to which it is attached I and move the same to the folded position illustrated in Figure 2. This action of the spring permits the frame to be moved to the folded position while the workman is supported by the ladder, and is accomplished without manual aid.

If it is desired to secure the frame in the folded position the spring 30 is passed over the upper rung l3 and engaged with the hook or keeper 32 carried by the rolled outer end of one of the arms 14. As clearly illustrated in. Figure 3, the

end of the arm extends below and substantially above the upper rung when the frame isin the folded position in a manner to necessitate a considerable expansion of the spring to effect the above connection. The manner in which the spring is tautly stretched between the eye-bolt 20 and the keeper 32 will securely hold the frame in the folded position and prevent the same from inadvertently moving downwardly of its own accord.

The last-mentioned position of the spring, as best illustrated in Figure 3, is the normal position. In operation, the workman may lean the ladder against the wall 28, and when he desires to move the upper end of the ladder into spaced relation with the wall, he disengages the upper end of the spring from the keeper 3'2. Disengagement of the spring from the hook 32- will permit the frame to swing downwardly within the limit permitted by the chain 29, whereby movement of the ladder away from the supporting wall will permit the outer ends of the arms to hold the ladder in spaced relation with the wall; The workman then engages the free end of the spring with the hook 31 so that movement of the arms M away from the wall will permit the spring to automatically move the frame to the folded position.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a ladder support, a frame mounted for swinging movement about a rung. of the ladder, said frame including spaced arm portions adapted to engage a supporting wall to hold the ladder spaced therefrom; a hook carried by the ladder above the said frame; and a spring having one.

action of the said spring normally holding the frame folded against the ladder but permitting the said arm portions to be moved away from the ladder and into abutting engagement with the supporting wall.

2. In a ladder support, a pair of arm members mounted for swinging movement about a rung of the ladder, the free ends of the said arms being adapted to bear against a wall to hold the ladder spaced therefrom; link means for adjusting the arms relative to each other and for holding the same in the adjusted position; a hook carried by the ladder above the rung supporting the said arms; and a spring having one end connected to the link means and the other end thereof adapted for connection with the hook, the said spring being extended by movement of the arms into engagement with the wall and the resilient action of the same being sufficient to swing the arms to a folded position against the ladder upon movement of the arms out of engagement with the wall.

3. In a ladder support, a frame mounted for swinging movement about a rung of the ladder, said frame including spaced arm portions adapted to engage a supporting wall to hold the ladder spaced therefrom; a hook carried by the ladder above the said frame; a spring having one end connected to the frame at a point spaced from the ladder and the other end thereof adapted for connection with the hook, the resilient action of the said spring normally holding the frame folded against the ladder but permitting the said arm portions to be moved away from the ladder and into abutting engagement with the supporting wall; and a keeper mounted on the distal end of one of the arms, whereby the last-mentioned end of the spring may be disengaged from the -hock, looped around another rung of the ladder the ladder, the free ends of the said arms being end connected to the frame at a point spaced from the ladder and the other end thereof adapted for connection with the hook, the resilient adapted to bear against a wall to hold the ladder spaced therefrom; link means for adjusting the arms relative to each other and for holding the same in the adjusted position; a hook carried by the ladder above the rung supporting the said arms; a spring having one end connected to the link means and the other end thereof adapted for connection with the hook, the said spring being extended by movement of the arms into engagement with the wall and the resilient action of the same being sufficient to swing the arms to a folded position against the ladder upon movement of the arms out of engagement with the wall; and a keeper carried by the distal end of one of the arms, whereby the last mentioned end of the spring may be disengaged from the hook, looped around another rung of -the ladder and connected with the keeper to secure the arms in the folded position.

5. In a ladder support, a frame mounted for swinging movement about a rung of the ladder, said frame including spaced arm portions adapted to engage a supporting wall to hold the ladder spaced therefrom; means to limit the swinging movement of the frame; a hook carried by the laded for connection with the hook, the resilient action of the said spring normally holding the frame folded against the ladder but permitting the said arm portions to be moved away from the ladder and into abutting engagement with the supporting connection with. the hook, the said spring being extended by movement of the arms into engagement with the Wall and the resilient action of the same being suificient to swing the arms to a folded position against the ladder upon movement of the arms out of engagement with the wall; and a keeper carried by the distal end of one of the arms, whereby the last-mentioned end of the spring may be disengaged from the hook, looped around another rung of the ladder and connected with the keeper to secure the arms in the folded position.

CHARLES A. EILERS. 

